Improvement in machines for stretching hat-bodies



arranged in suitable bearings.

'rEn STATES 'EEE "EEtcEg GEORGE YULE, 0E NEWARK, NEW JERsEY, AssreNoR 0EONE-HALE Eis RIGHT r ro oHARLEscRossLEY, or sAME PLAcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR STRETCHING HAT-BODlElS. M

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,400, dated July 6,1875; application filed october 31, 1874.`

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE YULE, of the city` of Newark, county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and" usefulImprovements in Machines for `Stretching Hat-Bodies; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to whichmyinvention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference markedthereon, and which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a top or plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of thesame, and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several iigures indicatelike parts.

My invention consists ot' a machine for stretching the conical caps offelted material ot' which hat-bodies are made previous to forming themupon the proper blocks, and of which .the construction and operationwill hereinafter be more fully shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame or body of themachine, having a tank or vat, B, situated in the upper central part ofthe same, said tank or Vat being provided at its bottom with a coiledpipe, C, perforated on its upper surface. Through the lower central partot' the frame A is placed la horizontal shaft, D, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. l, In one end of the frame A is also arranged a verticalrod, E, the upper end of which is provided with a cone-shapedhead, d,and the lower end furnished with screw-threads, adapted to work in thescrew-threads of the adjusting-wheel F. The vertical rod E is given areciprocating motion by the action of Jthe crank-pin c, arranged ou thewheel G, which is secured to the inner end of the horizontal shaft D;said `crank-pin e engaging with the sliding block r, arranged to work inthe slotted opening of the larm g, attached to the lower part of theadjusting-wheel F. On the upper part or" the frame A, and near one end,is arranged a stailiona-ry disk, f, around the periphery of which aresecured lugs JL, to which' are `pivoted the radiating stretcher-arms a,as shown in Fig. 3.

AThese arms are provided with elbows j,

f rod, L, arranged in suitable bearings, and provided with the treadleo, is attached to the end of the machine; said rod having a lug or pin,p, secured to its upper end, which engages in the slot a ofthe slidingblock K; the radiating arms a and b being held in a closed position,when the machine is not being operated, by means ot' the rubber band orsuitable spring c. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.)

In the operation of the hereinbefore-described parts, the hat-body,consist-ing of a conical cap otIl felted material, is rst placed in thetank B, which is partially filled with hot water, and steam introducedinto the same through the perforations in steam-coil pipe C, the steambeing ejected into the water, and, coming in contact with the feltedmaterial, renders the same pliable and soft. The hatbody is then takenout, and drawn over the stretcher-arms a while-in the position shown inFigs. l and 2. The shaft VD is then set in motion by suitable power,which gives a reciprocatin g motion to the vertical rod E, theconeshaped head d of which, in its upward passage, spreads the arms a.,as shown in Fig. 3. The'treadle o is now pressed down, which forces thesliding arms b to the upper part ot' the arms a, and on a level with thesaine, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in the open ation of whichthe hat-bodywill readily and thoroughly acquire the requisite shape.

The usual plan of stretching felted hatbodies upon the forming-blocks byhand is an operation requiring tedious manipulation on the part of theworkman but by the employment of the above-described machine they maylbe quickly and thoroughly stretched previous to being formed upon theproper blocks.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the expansive hinged stretcher-arms a and slidinghinged stretchers or formers b with the vertical-actin g shaft E,provided with a head, d, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination-of the expansive stretchers and formers a and b, andthe vertical shaft E, provided with an enlargement or heath-and theadjusting device, consisting of a right and left thread and nut,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

lhave hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses on thisthe 25th day of June, A. D. 1874.

GEORGE YULE. Witnesses:

JOHN DANE, Jr., J oHN JACOB YUHL.

